Derick Almena has plenty of reasons to be upset, if not in total shock, after last weekend, when 36 people died in a raging fire inside the Oakland, California, warehouse he managed.
Known as the "Ghost Ship," the old building served as home to some people and as an art collective, but on Friday night, it was the scene of a dance party that became the deadliest structural fire in Oakland's history.
On Tuesday, Almena joined “Today” for his first television interview since the blaze. He became emotional and confrontational, and refused to answer questions from hosts Matt Lauer and Tamron Hall about who should take responsibility for the fire.
Almena, his wife and their three children lived in the warehouse, but they were not in the space during the party.
“What am I doing here? Can I just say, 'I’m sorry?'” Almena said to start the live interview as he stood at the scene of the destruction. He went on to say he didn’t want to talk about himself and that the building was not run for profit, but as a communal space.
“I laid my three children down there every night. This is not profit. This is loss. This is a mass grave,” he said. “I’m only here to say one thing, that I am incredibly sorry. And that everything I did was to make this a stronger, more beautiful community and to bring people together. People didn’t walk through those doors because it was a horrible place.”
Then he refused to answer direct questions about whether he should be held accountable, saying, as his voice rose, “I’m not going to answer these questions the way you are presenting them. I’d rather get on the floor and be trampled by the parents! I’d rather let them tear up my flesh than answer these ridiculous questions!”
It might be difficult for some to find sympathy for Almena in the wake of such significant loss of life, considering his rather insensitive Facebook post. In the hours after the fire, Almena posted a status mourning the loss of his building, but saying nothing about the loss of lives.
“Confirmed. Everything I worked so hard for is gone,” he wrote. “Blessed that my children and Micah were at a hotel safe and sound.”
As has been widely reported, the building had been the subject of numerous code complaints from the city. Former tenants alleged that Almena illegally rented out the space and did not install fire alarms, sprinklers or proper electricity. He did not secure a permit for the dance party that was held.
Almena was also on probation after pleading guilty in January to receiving stolen property.
He reportedly has spoken with authorities but has not been charged in the fire.
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